Sustainable Development in Deerfield

Sustainable (Green) Design Elements & Features


​Horizon Therapeutics (2021)

Horizon Therapeutics full campus renovations of One Horizon Way located in Deerfield, Illinois has retained the existing USGBC LEED ‘Gold ’certification.  All new architecture has advanced current USGBC LEED Program Energy Efficiency requirements.  Among the upgrades to the campus have been:

Addition of a Green Roof and Trees Across Campus:

  • The new exterior Green Roof can absorb in excess of 1,300 gallons of storm / rain water. This increased water quality as the water is naturally filtered within the system. This also reduces the impact of overflow on the Campus sewer system.
  • The mass structure of the soil and plants insulates the roof area this reducing the heating load on the workplace areas located below the green roof.
  • There is an increased level of produced oxygen and a reduced carbon dioxide output that is transferred from all plant photosynthesis.
  • The roof area provides a habitat for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
  • Added over 300 trees across the campus

Upgraded Electrical Systems:

  • The project, for both new light fixtures and re-use of existing fixtures, integrated a new energy efficient full LED Lighting fixture specification and controls package.
  • The project has integrated increased daylight harvesting.  It has also increased all per floor and per facility isolated zones of lighting fixture programming that, based on utilization or occupancy of spaces, allows for a reduction in power consumption throughout the Campus.
  • All Pantry, Café, Meeting Areas, Cafeteria appliances and equipment specifications are selected based on their high Energy Efficient qualifications.
  • All Audio-Visual equipment specifications are selected based on their high Energy Efficient qualifications.
  • Installation of 10 dual electric vehicle charging stations capable of charging 20 vehicles at a time.

 Upgraded Mechanical Systems :

  • The Project has integrated a full base building monitoring system that provides continual metering of all utilities (to allow better control and management of power and water usage).  In addition all mechanical units for both return and supply air have been upgraded to ‘Merv 13’ filtration.

 Upgraded Plumbing:

  • All plumbing fixtures in the new design and complete renovations of existing spaces have been replaced with low-flush and flow specification. These areas include new restrooms, pantries, wellness rooms on each floor and a Coffee Café,  and the Main Cafeteria.

 Construction and Furniture:

  • All building and furniture product materials have been selected based on their Low- VOC environmentally responsive qualifications.

Recycling and Reuse:

  • Donated prior tenant furniture that was not used by Horizon to a variety of non-profits and charities
  • Implementing recycling programs at the desktop and in on floor pantries
  • Implementing recycling and composting programs at the cafeteria and espresso café
  • Implementing program to donate unused food to appropriate non profits
The other sustainable elements of the Horizon campus are: 
(2005, 2009) The offices on the campus were been designed with attention to the sun’s path to give employees the maximum amount of exposure to natural daylight. The office building achieved LEED gold level certification during their Phase I. Phase I included native prairie landscaping; open space with water efficient landscaping; using covered parking to mitigate heat islands; using site lighting sensitively to support the Dark Sky initiatives; and using permeable pavement and bioswales as part of the stormwater management program. The Phase I office buildings included HVAC, lighting and buildings systems that met energy efficiency standards; and the use of low VOC (volatile organic compounds) emitting materials such as adhesives, sealants, paints and carpet. The office building also received LEED Gold certification for Phase II. Prairie plantings and efficient energy usage in the building are the focus of the Phase II LEED initiatives and Phase II include many of the green and sustainable initiatives that were present in Phase I. The former owner also encouraged its employees to use alternative transportation such as mass transit, bicycles and carpooling.

In 2010, the former building owner sought LEED certification for its new child care facility. HVAC, lighting, and other building systems met energy efficiency standards. Water use is reduced by using efficient fixtures. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emitting materials (adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, composite products, etc.) have been used and indoor air quality is managed and monitored. The building was been designed to minimize solar heat gain, while still allowing sunlight inside for the building’s occupants. Solid materials were used along the southern exposure of the building to block the sun’s most direct rays and heat, while the three other faces of the building are comprised primarily of glass. All the classrooms in the child care center are bordered by a glass exterior to allow in sunlight, and skylights provide natural lighting in the corridors of the building.

REVA  Residential Development (2019)

A 246-unit luxury transit oriented rental community with structured and surface parking, extensive resident amenities and programmed greenspace.  The plan includes a mix of condo quality apartments, luxury rental townhomes and extensive resident common area and amenity space to the evolving Deerbrook Shopping Center. The proposed residential component introduces complimentary architecture, enhanced pedestrian circulation and connectivity to Deerbrook Mall, Deerfield Park Plaza and the Lake Cook Road Metra Station with decorative walkways, additional crosswalks and wayfinding signage. Land planning emphasizes an inviting residential oasis with easy access to walkable retail, transit, and employment. Although the site is currently almost entirely non-permeable (buildings and pavement), the proposed plan relies on a healthy balance of residential buildings and greenspace. There will be over 2 acres of active and passive greenspace in six distinct areas with programming to include: dog park, pool/sun deck, and multiple courtyard and garden spaces with seating/grilling areas and other outdoor activities.



Walgreens Wilmot Road Campus Renovations – Skywalk and Parking Expansion (2018)

The Walgreens Corporate offices enhanced their corporate campus with the creation of supplementary parking stalls in locations more convenient to their buildings to ensure a user friendly experience for arriving team members and visitors year round. Walgreens also enhance their team members’ ability to more safely, and conveniently, move between facilities with a fully enclosed skywalk linking together their three main building. The two primary sustainable design elements for these enhancements are the use of energy efficient lighting, and storm water treatment.

 All new lighting associated with the project will utilize LED technology, including site lighting and illumination within the Skywalk. LED lights produce more light using less power compared to  conventional lighting technologies.

The parking expansion area utilizes a combination of storm water best management practices to control and treat runoff from the parking lot areas. Specifically, the design includes an underground detention system, dry vegetated pond/swale area, as well as vegetated islands with curb cuts allowing runoff to enter the area within the island and flow through vegetated media prior to entering the storm sewer. The underground detention system will be constructed with a network of closed rows of plastic or metal piping with a primary function of storing and controlling runoff release rates from the proposed paved areas. The vegetated pond/swale as well as the vegetated islands will be constructed of water and salt tolerant “no-mow” vegetation, with the primary function to treat runoff from the parking areas by means of filtering suspended solids out of the storm water prior to entering the storm sewer system. The proposed design elements will exceed the minimum required storm water regulations.

Oracle Innovation Lab (2018)

The concept Oracle’s Innovation Lab came about from the need to showcase the variety of innovative construction management related products that Oracle and other partners are actively developing for the rapidly evolving construction sector. The design of the building embraces the concept of innovation through use of cutting edge materials and construction techniques.  The 18,715 square foot Innovation Lab will consist of a model construction site inside the proposed building that will be used to demonstrate new construction and building software and equipment.  The proposed innovation lab will contain sustainable building design with 3 rows of roof mounted photovoltaic array designed to optimize solar collection. Other sustainable features in this project include LED light fixtures; low flow plumbing fixtures; and a translucent panel system allowing maximum daylighting.

Chick-Fil-A (2018)


Chick-Fil-A’s restaurant building  75 S. Waukegan Road incorporates a number of environmentally friendly design elements including low-flow water fixtures, energy efficient heating and cooling, and energy efficient lighting.



8 Parkway North (2016)

Eight and Five Parkway North are the last two speculative development sites in the Parkway North Office Center. The property was approved for a build-to-suit tenant of approximately 190,700 square feet.  Owner, Quadrangle Development Company, committed to utilizing sustainability measures in the design of the building will conform to a LEED Silver certification standard.  Building design and operation features include HVAC, lighting and other building systems will meet energy efficiency standards. The building envelope will support energy efficiency and tenant comfort levels, as well. Water use will be reduced by using more efficient fixtures and controls. Roof materials will be Energy Star compliant and highly emissive. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emitting materials (adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, composite products, etc.) will be specified for construction. Some of the most externally visible aspects of the sustainability program are the development of site lighting sensitively designed to limit light trespass and the inclusion of open space with water efficient landscaping, utilizing native plants and others. Use of alternative transportation is encouraged by the provision of bike racks and preferred parking for car pool users. 



7 Parkway North (2016)


The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) is a certification organization for psychiatrists and neurologists. Their new two‐story facility’s sole use is for ABPN and their committee volunteers has numerous green elements present within the development including minimized impervious surfaces, a narrow building section (which increases access to daylight and reduces lighting/energy costs), sun control strategies, efficient lighting and occupancy sensors, low VOC materials, low E glazing and improved insulation.


3 Parkway North Expanded Parking Garage (2016)

Over the recent years, corporate users have continued to seek greater and greater efficiency for their space and this has raised the density of the occupancy in the spaces. To meet this demand, the new owners of the 3 Parkway North property expanded the existing parking deck with a three story garage addition is situated to the north of the existing structure and connect to the second and third levels to those levels in the existing garage and utilizes the existing ramping.  To create something different from but complimentary to the existing structure’s façade a “Green Screen” element was planted on the west elevation of the new structure to create a softer more welcoming backdrop to the forecourt. This element served to reduce the apparent size of the addition. The plants are grown from not only the ground but also from planter boxes on both upper levels to ensure better coverage of the plants. Use of the Green Screen system has inherent sustainable properties. The use of this product to clad the building will help in part to reduce stormwater runoff and increase the presence of vegetation on site. In addition, the structure that the plants grow on is manufactured using a combination of post and pre-consumer recycled material.

636 D

eerfield Road Building (2016)

The 636 Deerfield Road building was built in 1951 for a single tenant and for over 65 years the building has remained pretty much the same. As a result, the building is now was fair to poor condition. In 2016, new ownership adapted and re-purposed the existing 13,853 sf building from a single tenant to a multi-tenant building.



Elysian Way Subdivision(2015)

 
Rain garden in the middle of cul-de-sac turnaround.

AMLI Deerfield (2015)


This 240-unit luxury apartment community has been designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification. The LEED rating system, developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

AMLI Deerfield's green features include: ENERGY STAR appliances; WaterSense fixtures; programmable thermostats; low VOC paints, sealants and carpet; electric car charging stations; bike storage; and a comprehensive recycling program. AMLI Deerfield's luxury rental apartments are expected to use 27% less energy and 31% less water than a conventional apartment and feature eco-friendly building materials that improve indoor air quality while using fewer natural resources. AMLI Deerfield is 100% smoke-free, inside and out
enhancing air quality and creating a healthier living environment for its residents.
Image is a graphic of a small tree with green leaves

Renewable/Alternative Energy Regulations (2011-2012)


Since spring 2009 Deerfield Planning staff has been participating in the Alternative Energy Task Force of Lake County Communities. This Task Force was organized to analyze available data and information on wind, solar, and geothermal energy systems and to develop suggested guidelines to regulate them in Lake County, Illinois. The Task Force developed and adopted model ordinances which can be widely adopted by Lake County communities and adapted to fit each community’s individual needs. The Task Force encourages each Lake County community to evaluate the separate provisions of the model ordinances to assure that the guidelines will suit the community’s own particular needs.

In fall 2011 the Deerfield Plan Commission held public hearings on Text Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to regulate renewable / alternative energy systems, including wind, solar, and geothermal. The Village has taken the Lake County model ordinances and adjusted them to better fit Deerfield. On January 17, 2012, the Village Board voted to approve the Text Amendments for renewable/alternative energy systems.

Deerfield Public Library (2011)


The proposed additions, renovations, and site improvements to the Deerfield Public Library will include some sustainable elements: much of the existing building will be reused and the site has been designed to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists in addition to motorists; the landscaping will not require the installation of irrigation systems; energy efficient lighting and efficient HVAC systems will be installed; inside the building, there will be low flow faucets and toilets in the bathrooms and indoor air quality will be monitored and low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials will be used.

School District 109 Administration Center (2011)


The new addition, renovations, and site improvements to the School District 109 Administration Center building include some sustainable elements. The proposed site improvements include a rain garden to help handle stormwater runoff. New energy efficient windows will be installed in both the new addition and the existing building. The School District is applying for a grant from the State in order to install a geothermal heating and cooling system in the Administration Center building.

Walgreens Solar Panels (2011)


Walgreens was recently approved to place solar panels on the south side of the roof of the 200 Wilmot Road building at their corporate headquarters.

Wastewater Reclamation Facility (2010)


The Village of Deerfield is pursuing LEED certification for the administration building. The main purpose of the LEED certification is for the Village to act in a leadership role and promote sustainable design. Some of the sustainable design elements include an effluent heat recovery system, which uses the stable, year-round temperature of the effluent as a heating and cooling source; enhanced ventilation systems; insulation; individually controlled lighting systems; low use plumbing systems; good indoor air quality through the use low VOC (volatile organic compounds) products; a rain garden to handle runoff from the administration building; and the use of construction waste management techniques including reducing waste and recycling as much as possible. In addition to the LEED certification, other sustainable elements on the site include the rain garden for the biosolids building and porous paving in low-traffic areas.

Wilmot Elementary School (2010)


The recent site improvements to Wilmot Elementary School include the expansion of Clarrisa’s Prairie with native plantings. The building improvements include a high albedo roof, triple glazed windows, and thermally efficient roof and wall assemblies, and natural light is present in each new educational space.

Woodland Park (2010)


The sustainable elements included in the Woodland Park improvements include permeable pavers under in portions of the new parking lot, continued savannah restoration with native plantings, and rain gardens.

Stormwater User Guide (2009)


A User Guide was adopted by the Village that encourages the use of green and sustainable tools at the lot level. The User Guide is used to administer the current stormwater ordinance. The User Guide encourages the owner/developer to utilize various methods of their choosing to meet the goals of the Village’s stormwater ordinance including elements such as rain barrels, rain gardens, and porous paver driveways and patios, native plantings, turf blocks and green roofs.

Park District’s Briarwood Nature Area (2008)


The new parking lot for the Briarwood Nature Area is constructed from porous pavers so the rainwater penetrates directly through the parking lot surface and is filtered through gravel and then returned to the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River. The Park District is also making trail improvements and eradicating invasive and noxious plant species (such as buckthorn) throughout the area. Other improvements to the area include a wetland restoration of Trail Tree Park which includes restoration and stabilization of 350 feet of stream bank by softening the bank’s slope to reduce erosion. The Park District has installed riprap along the banks to help slow future erosion. They have planted native grasses along the banks and planted floodplain rain gardens of wetland plants which absorb water at a faster rate and filter the water as it returns to the river. The Park District is also has installed a bird watching hide and an overlook in the Trail Tree Park. There is informational/educational signage throughout Briarwood Nature Area and Trail Tree Park which covers topics such as porous paving, trail trees, flood plains, and the history of the Middle Fork creek.

Textura (2007)


As part of Textura’s renovation of the former Teradyne building on Lake Cook Road, Textura has incorporated many green features into its redesign of the existing building including: energy efficient glass; sunshades projecting from the building to control the incoming natural light; the interior lighting has sensors to adjust lighting levels to accommodate as much natural light as possible for energy savings; and reusing the existing building structure and recycling the existing components. For the future, Textura is also planning a green trellised area on the east side of the building made of a polycarbonate greenhouse roof.